Abortion Report Jacquelyn Blair English 2010 Report-Final

Introduction  I wanted to research some different questions about abortion:  How many pregnancies are on purpose?  How many abortions are there in the U.S.?  How many abortions are there worldwide?  How has abortion numbers changed over the years?  What are some reasons that women have abortions?  Safe abortions Vs. Unsafe abortions?

Unintended Pregnancy

Pregnancies in the United States (Approximately 6.7 Million in 2006) UnintendedIntended % of pregnancies

Outcomes of Unintended Pregnancies (Approximately 3.2 Million in 2006) % of unintended pregnancies (excluding miscarriages)

Abortion Rates Among Women Aged 15–44 Abortions per 1,000 women

Gestational Age

Abortions Overwhelmingly Occur Early in Pregnancy Abortions Overwhelmingly Occur Early in Pregnancy Weeks % of abortions

Reasons for Abortions

Reasons for Abortions After 16 Weeks Since Last Menstrual Period Did not recognize the pregnancy 71% Had difficulty making arrangements for abortion 48% Was afraid to tell parents or partner33% Needed time to make decision24% Hoped relationship would change 8% Was pressured not to have abortion 8% Something changed during pregnancy 6% Did not know timing was important 6% Did not know abortion was an option 5% Fetal abnormality was diagnosed late 2% Other11%

Worldwide Perspective on Abortion

Numbers of Abortions Worldwide in Different Countries Over time

Abortion has declined worldwide WorldMore developed countries Less developed countries Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44

20 Million Unsafe Abortions Occur Each Year

Works Cited   Jones RK and Kooistra, K., Abortion incidence and access to services in the United States, 2008, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2011, 43(1):41–50.  Finer LB and Zolna MR, Unintended pregnancy in the United States: incidence and disparities, 2006, Contraception, 2011, doi: /j.contraception  Finer LB and Henshaw SK, Disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy in the United States, 1994 and 2001, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2006, 38(2):90–96.  Sedgh G et al., Legal abortion worldwide: incidence and recent trends, International Family Planning Perspectives, 2007, 33(3):106–116.,

Works Cited Cont…  Singh S et al., Abortion Worldwide: A Decade of Uneven Progress, New York: Guttmacher Institute,  Torres A and Forrest JD, Why do women have abortions? Family Planning Perspectives, 1988, 20(4):169–176.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abortion surveillance—United States, 2006, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2009, Vol. 58, No. SS-8.